Spirea plant named &#39;Flowering Choice&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Spiraea×Bumalda plant is provided that is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation. The new variety is dwarf in nature and exhibits a small compact and rounded growth habit. Large purplish-pink blooms are formed over an extended period of time. The foliage is fine-textured and changes from medium green to orange in the fall. The available Spirea choices are expanded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The new Spiraea×Bumalda Burv. plant of the present invention wasthe product of a controlled breeding program that began in 1976 atBoisbriand, Quebec, Canada. Initially, Spiraea×Bumalda ‘Goldflame’(non-patented in the United States) was crossed with Spiraea japonicanana ‘W.H. Perron Select’ (non-patented in the United States). The F₁seeds were sown in the greenhouse and 403 seedlings were planted andobserved in the field. From 1978 to 1988, twenty-seven clones wereselected for their yellow foliage. A yellow foliage clone ‘SX-1-31-02’was open pollinated and the resulting F₂ seed produced 60 percentseedlings having green foliage and 40 percent seedlings having yellowfoliage. One of the yellow foliage clones was selected and was openpollinated with the resulting seedlings having 65 percent yellow foliageand 35 percent green foliage. Of these seedlings, one selection wasnamed ‘G-DW-80-106’ (non-patented in the United States), and served asthe male parent of the cross that yielded the new variety of the presentinvention. The female parent in such cross was Spiraea japonica,‘Shirobana’ (non-patented in the United States). A single plant of thenew variety of the present invention was first observed in 1985 and wasselected during 1986 from among the resulting seedlings and has beencarefully preserved.

[0002] It was found that the new variety of the present inventiondisplays the following combination of characteristics:

[0003] (a) exhibits a small compact and rounded growth habit,

[0004] (b) forms attractive large purplish-pink blooms over an extendedperiod of time, and

[0005] (c) forms fine-textured lanceolate medium green leaves thatassume a purplish-red coloration in the fall.

[0006] The new variety of the present invention well meets the needs ofthe horticultural industry and can be grown as distinctiveornamentation. Attractive perfect (bisexual) flowers are produced ascompound corymbs after the emergence of the leaves on the currentseason's wood.

[0007] The plants of the new variety can be readily distinguished fromthose of the ‘Little Princess’ variety (non-patented in the UnitedStates). More specifically, the new variety is a smaller plant, the newvariety commonly blooms up to approximately fifteen weeks compared toapproximately five weeks for the ‘Little Princess’ variety, the ‘LittlePrincess’ commonly initiates blooming on an earlier date, the blooms ofthe new variety are larger, the florets of ‘Little Princess’ are lighterin coloration when they first open and fade to a lighter pink, theleaves of the new variety turn purplish-red in the fall whereas those ofthe ‘Little Princess’ variety turn orange, the growth habit is roundedcompared to flattop-rounded for the ‘Little Princess’ variety, and thenew variety produces no follicle whereas the ‘Little Princess’ varietyproduces a medium brown follicle.

[0008] The new variety of the present invention can be distinguishedfrom its ‘Shirobana’ parent by its shorter and more compact growthhabit, longer period of blooming, and the formation of all purplish-pinkflowers whereas the flowers of ‘Shirobana’ are white and pink.

[0009] The rooting of cuttings has been used to asexually propagate thenew variety at Quebec, Canada. Such propagation can be readily carriedout in early spring while using tender cuttings. It has been found thatthe distinctive combination of characteristics of the new variety isfirmly fixed and is reliably transmitted to succeeding generations.

[0010] The new variety has been named ‘Flowering Choice’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0011] The accompanying photographs show specimens of the new variety incolor as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same incolor illustrations of this nature. The plants had been propagated fromrooted cuttings, were approximately two years of age, and were beinggrown outdoors during the summer in containers at Quebec, Canada.

[0012]FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a typical plant of the newvariety while blooming. The attractive small compact rounded growthhabit and profusion of blooms are shown.

[0013]FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the foliage and blossoms ofthe new variety. The attractive purplish-pink flowers and fine-texturedfoliage are shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following is a detailed description of the new variety thatwas obtained while observing plants of approximately two years of ageduring the summer while being grown outdoors in containers at Quebec,Canada. The chart used in the identification of color is the R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Commoncolor terms are to be accorded their customary dictionary significance.,

[0015] Botanical classification:

[0016]Spiraea×Bumalda, cv. ‘Flowering Choice’.

[0017]Female Parent.—Spiraea japonica, cv. ‘Shirobana’.

[0018]Male Parent.—Spiraea×Bumalda, cv. ‘G- DW-80-106’.

[0019] Plant:

[0020]Type.—Perennial shrub.

[0021]Growth Habit.—Compact, small, and rounded with a weak tendency tosucker.

[0022]Growth Rate.—Rapid with excellent vigor.

[0023]Height.—Approximately 27 cm at two years of age. When fully matureassumes a height of approximately 35 to 40 cm.

[0024]Width.—Approximately 34 cm at two years of age.

[0025]Branching Habit.—Moderately dense. Stem

[0026]Cross-Section.—Round.

[0027]Stem Surface.—Smooth.

[0028]Stem Shape.—Straight when viewed from the side.

[0029]Stem Diameter.—Medium.

[0030]Stem Color.—Light brown.

[0031]Stem Pubescence.—Absent.

[0032]Secondary Shoots.—Present.

[0033]Tertiary Shoots.—Absent.

[0034]Roots.—Fine fibrous with much branching.

[0035] Leaflets:

[0036]Arrangement.—Alternate.

[0037]Configuration.—Lanceolate.

[0038]Tip.—cute.

[0039]Base.—Cuneate. This compares to an acute base for the ‘LittlePrincess’ variety.

[0040]Length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.

[0041]Width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.

[0042]Texture.—Smooth.

[0043]Pubescence.—Generally absent with weak pubescence at the margin.

[0044]Margin.—Serrate with teeth distributed only over the finalapproximately ⅔s of the blade. This can be compared to the ‘LittlePrincess’ variety that has teeth distributed over the complete leafmargin.

[0045]Venation.—Pinnate, and glabrous with no glaucosity on bothsurfaces.

[0046]Color.—Young Foliage: Purplish-red when unfolding then when openYellow-Green Group 144A on the upper surface and Yellow-Green Group 144Bon the under surface.

[0047]Mature Foliage.—Medium green, Green Group 137B on the uppersurface and Green Group 137C on the under surface.

[0048]Fall Foliage.—Purplish-red. This can be compared to orange for the‘Little Princess’ variety.

[0049]Petioles.—Present, and Yellow-Green Group on young foliage andGreen Group 137D on the mature foliage.

[0050] Inflorescence:

[0051]Arrangement.—Compound corymbs after emergence of the leaves.

[0052]Bud Shape.—Short, narrow and round. This compares to a mediumlength bud for the ‘Little Princess’ variety.

[0053]Bud Color.—Red-Purple Group 61B.

[0054]Flower Size.—Large, approximately 6.9 cm in diameter. This can becompared to the diameter of approximately 5 cm for the ‘Little Princess’variety.

[0055]Type.—Perfect (bisexual).

[0056]Habit.—Blooms continuously from late spring to late summer over aperiod of up to approximately 15 weeks. This can be compared to the‘Little Princess’ variety which commonly initiates blooming inmid-spring and blooms for only approximately 5 weeks. Flowering islocated on terminal and axillary stems.

[0057]Petal Number.—Five and non-fused.

[0058]Petal Texture.—Smooth.

[0059]Petal Shape.—Substantially round.

[0060]Petal Tip.—Rounded.

[0061]Petal Margin.—Entire.

[0062]Petal Color.—Red-Purple Group 70D with a darker center ofRed-Purple Group 71B. This can be compared to a lighter Red-PlurpleGroup 65D with a center of Red-Purple 61B for the ‘Little Princess’variety. The coloration lightens somewhat after a few days. Forinstance, the present variety commonly lightens to Red-Purple Group 65Dand the ‘Little Princess’ variety corinamonly lightens to Red Group 56D.

[0063]Sepals.—Five in number with weak pubescence.

[0064]Stamens.—Located above the petals with distinct carpel formation.

[0065]Follicle.—None formed. In contrast, the ‘Little Princess’ varietyproduces a medium brown follicle.

[0066]Peduncle.—Present with very weak or no pubescence.

[0067] Development:

[0068]Propagation.—Propagates well using tender cuttings during earlyspring. Roots commonly are initiated in approximately 21 to 28 days at20° C. Rooted liners commonly are produced in approximately 5 to 8 weeksin the summer. A plant rooted in June is ready for sale the following,Spring.

[0069]Disease Resistance.—Typical of Spirea.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Spirea plant that displays thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a small compactand rounded growth habit, (b) forms attractive large purplish-pinkblooms over an extended period of time, and (c) forms fine-texturedlanceolate medium green leaves that assume a purplish-red coloration inthe fall; substantially as illustrated and described.